Johannes Ludwig Jakob Enke (1753)

Born 1753 in Bieber, Biebergemünd, Main-Kinzig-Kreis, Hessen, Germany

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Muschiltz) Enke — married 1787 in Pennsylvania, United States

Descendants

Died [date unknown] in Mauch Chunk Township, Northampton, Pennsylvania, United States (likely)

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Biography

Early Life

Ludwig was born in 1753, likely in Bieber in Hesse. It is known that his family was in Bieber in 1757, so Bieber is almost certainly the birthplace.

In 1774, Ludwig entered the military. From the Hessian records, we know that by 1776, his father, a "Hüttenvogt" in Bieber, is dead. His mother was 45 years old in 1776, and that he had one brother and two sisters. Ludwig is listed as Lutheran.

Military Service

Ludwig enlisted in 1754 with the Hannover Artillery Company. Four months of the next two years was with the Scheither Infantry, and the remaining one and a half years was served in Hanau.

On May 7, 1776, the company was mustered to fight in the American Revolutionary war, and proceeded with embarkation plans toward Canada. In September 1776, Ludwig waits in Trois Rivières for the transport ship that has the Artillery Company's equipment. He served as a bombardier, a non-commissioned officer rank, an artilleryman serving mortar and howitzers.

March 5, 1777, the company is mustered in Montreal. Ludwig is very helpful to Commander Pausch, since he speaks French. In May 1777, Commander Pausch proposes to the Crown Prince that Ludwig be promoted to officer. In October 1777, he is a prisoner of war with his regiment.

In 1778, Ludwig got into a quarrel with a comrade, Bombadier Hoff. Receiving a crushing blow to the arm with a stone, Ludwig's arm was broken.

In 1781, he is detected in Virginia. Many Hessian soldiers were marched to Virginia, to serve time on the plantations and in the detention facilities there. See here for more information on the Hessian march.

There seems to be conflicting information on what happened next. Individual records seem to say that Ludwig had a number of escape attempts, being recaptured several times. But the Hetrina researcher has this note, that on July 4, 1782, Ludwig deserted from American captivity and did not return to the troop.

In 1783, prisoners of war were offered a chance to stay in the US in exchange for three years' indentured servitude to a trustworthy citizen. Ludwig may have worked from 1783 to 1786 in exchange for the opportunity to stay in the country, if he was still with the prisoners of war at that time.

American Life

In 1786, we see Ludwig (now "Lewis") out of his indenture, married to Elizabeth Muschlitz, owning 1 acre and 1 cow, and having his first child, Magdalena.

By 1815, Lewis had 98 acres (Ancestry image), which he sold to the Walton family for $850 and 36 acres in barter.

In 1823, his wife Elizabeth died.

It is likely, but unproven, that Lewis' death was a precipitating event for his son John to sell the home in Mauch Chunk and start journeying West.

Sources

• LAGIS Hetrina Hessian soldier registry

• "US Census, 1790" entry for Lewis Incky. database online. Heidelberg Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, USA; Family History Library Film: 0568148; Series: M637; Roll: 8; Page: 287; Image: 475. Ancestry image

• "US Census, 1800" entry for Lewis Encke, database online. Penn Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, USA; Family History Library Film: 363340, Series: M32, Roll 37, Image: 82, pg: 610. Ancestry image

• "US Census, 1820" entry for Lewis Ensey, database online. East Penn Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, USA; pg: 227; NARA Roll: M33_104; Image: 238. Ancestry.com Operations 1820 Federal Census. Ancestry image